The House of Bols Cocktail and Genever Experience teaches guests how to taste drinks with the aid of sight, smell and sound. Liquor production started at Bols in 1575 and modern visitors can learn about the company history then visit the on-site nightclub.
People searching for an even cooler destination can visit the Xtra Cold Ice Cafe. Staff distribute jackets and gloves at the door of the ice sculpture filled bar, where the temperature remains at ten degrees below freezing year round.
Other popular haunts include the Dutch pubs known as brown cafes and Proeflokalen, which are liquor-tasting houses, some of which date back to the 17th century.
Meal times provide plenty of multicultural choices but Restaurant d'Vijff Vlieghen, built into five 17th century buildings, offers traditional Dutch fare. After dinner, an array of nightclubs variously styled as jazz clubs, rock clubs or discos stay open until early morning.
There are 165 canals in the Dutch capital and some time should be set aside for exploring them. Vendors rent small boats to people without boating licenses. Pedal boats are numerous and allow renters to drop them off at a number of different locations.
The Pancake on a Boat Cruise passes through the major tourist destinations and serves up traditional pancakes. Other boats provide live musical entertainment and romantic three-course dinners through the city at night.
People who dislike being on the water can explore the canal routes by foot or rent a cycle and join the many locals who have given Amsterdam a reputation as a cycling city.
Any visitor to the Netherlands expects to find windmills and the city center of Amsterdam boasts eight of them.
The 19th century Molen Van Sloten mill sits on the outskirts of the city and aside from offering daily access, it doubles as a marriage venue. Art lovers can visit the Van Gogh museum featuring 200 paintings by the famous painter and the house where Rembrandt, another famous artist, lived until 1659.
History takes an unexpected twist on the roller-coaster at the Amsterdam Dungeon, where guests can see the horrors of the past 500 years vividly brought to life.
A Tour is not complete without a visit to Dam square, where the Royal Palace and the Amsterdam Historical Museum are situated.
